We all need to find the detective inside. Fake Google reviews. Be careful!!

In my original post about my embarrassing story with my contractor, I emphasised the crucial need to research contractors thoroughly.

1. Examine their social media accounts. Read the comments on the photos and scrutinise the reviews in detail.

2. Investigate the company through Google reviews to understand who you are working with. Although I currently have no reviews, I am confident I will have genuine ones in the future.

3. Ensure they are registered with Companies House and have a company number.

4. Verify if they are VAT registered.

5. Confirm they have insurance. More details in this post Adequate Insurance. No Insurance! No Thanks!

6. Check that their business email is not a @gmail.com account. Some genuine businesses can operate with gmail accounts, but this could be a red flag too.

I am aware of two companies that appear exceptionally professional, boasting over 100 five-star reviews on Google. However, upon closer inspection, the names on these reviews seem unusual and possibly fabricated. One reviewer's name is "Fake review". It's possible that these reviews are generated overseas from fake accounts. The name's just don't look genuine to me.

I Googled "buy Google reviews" and this is a simple thing to be able to do apparently. They recommend small business's do this to gain trust! What a joke! How are these companies allowed to operate!

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of obtaining a written quote. We agreed our job through WhatsApp, which was not ideal, at least we had something in writing. Ensure the quote includes a comprehensive breakdown of the agreed works, including any making good. You don't want to be surprised by unexpected extras. If you have a quote you're uncertain about, send it to me. I'll review it for you.

The issue with these two companies I've recently encountered is their seemingly professional facade. When you examine the quotes more closely, the addresses match the legitimate business, but the phone numbers don't, and the email is from a Gmail account.

Most professional and established companies will have a certified email because Google requires identification verification when setting up a business. I believe companies sending invoices from a Gmail account could be fraudulent.

To list my Transparency Construction Ltd business on Google, I manage my account through the admin console. They verified my identity with a passport when I set up my business, ensuring I was genuine and not scamming people.

It's akin to a phishing attack. Always verify the email address you're receiving communications from, especially when you get suspicious messages claiming you've spent money on PayPal. If it's not from paypal.co but a Gmail account with a dubious name, be cautious.

I cannot stress enough the importance of this post: take your time and do your research. While a good price may be enticing, it won't be thrilling when you're deceived and end up taking someone to court.